Mike Sonko’s National Economic Development Party Officially Registered, Marking Major Political Comeback

Nairobi, Kenya

Key Highlights 

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has secured a major political breakthrough after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) approved the registration of his new political outfit, the National Economic Development Party (NEDP).

Sonko received the certificate of full registration on Tuesday morning at the ORPP headquarters in Westlands, Nairobi, signalling what many view as the beginning of his political resurgence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Arriving at Lion Place accompanied by senior party officials and a group of enthusiastic supporters, Sonko was formally handed the certificate after NEDP met all requirements under the Political Parties Act, including compliance with legal, administrative, and membership thresholds.

Although widely regarded as the party’s de facto leader, Sonko is expected to be formally inaugurated as NEDP’s party leader in early 2026.

The development marks a new chapter for the former governor, who has maintained a low profile since his impeachment in December 2020. His removal from office—upheld by the Senate and later the Supreme Court—barred him from contesting any elective position, citing gross misconduct, abuse of office, and corruption. His political troubles were also linked to strained relations with former President Uhuru Kenyatta and other senior government figures at the time.

With NEDP now fully registered, political analysts say Sonko has found a fresh platform through which he could reassert his influence and re-engage the national political arena despite the legal barriers surrounding his eligibility to run for office.

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NEDP was among several proposed parties reviewed by the ORPP in recent weeks, alongside the People Centred Party (PEC) and the United Super Alliance Party (USAP). The Registrar has invited members of the public with objections to any of the newly listed parties to submit them within seven days.

In a separate engagement on Tuesday, founder members of three additional proposed parties—the National Forum Party, the Clean Alliance Party of Kenya, and the New Face Party of Kenya—also appeared before the ORPP to present their documentation for consideration.

Sonko’s latest move is expected to ignite fresh debate on his political future as he attempts to carve a new space in Kenya’s ever-shifting political landscape.

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Editor@jlcnews.com